Croc

aye - saw a black Forrester STI in Aberdeen on Friday - looked great. Due to a recent addition to the family, I'd been planning to change from my current Impreza STI to a Forester but would be seriously tempted by an Forester STI. Impreza is fine for the baby, but it's all the crap that needs to go in the boot that causes the problem. Not that keen with it needing to be an import - and would be interested if anyone has experience of Forester STIs, maintenance, costs etc P

watch out for balancing weights, as the fronts on 17s can be too tight clearance for 'normal' weights. need to be the thin type -as I found out when some numbnuts garage used 'normal' weights on them and I ended up rubbing them off for 100 yards until i stopped and went back to find out what it was

could it be the jubilee clip on the hose? somehitng similar happened to me and turns out that when the garage had replaced a faulty air valve. worth checking it out anyway.

Loads of 'em around Aberdeen - a mix of wavers adn non wavers - I wave to most - but I am sorry to confess that I realised the other day that I'm a bit of a snob, and don't wave to non-turbo's - but then again, I've every reason to think that they won;t wave to me, cause I've never had one wave to me first! Does it make me a bad person to prefer fellow turbos - esp Blue new ages? anyway - I have noticed that certain cars wave more than others, and invariably men wave more than women. In fact, I don't think I have EVER been waved back from a woman. 1 fellow STIs - any age - wave most 2. then WRX Ssaloons - any age 3. then WRX Estate - although the older ones are probably more likely than the younger 4. non turbo - never waive 5. women driving any of the above never wave

I'd be mighty p!ssed off, if I'd shelled out for a new one as soon as they came out. Glad I didn't now - went for the extended warranty for year 4 and 5 instead. Saw a new one in Aberdeen today too heading fromCulter to Westhill - at a rate of knots too....wonder if he is annoyed p

I touch goats

welcome. the roads must be a significant improvement in Aviemore over Edinburgh. I hear the sheep are more attractive in Aviemore too ! p

I've noticed the same lack of Scoobies the further south you go. (occasionally drive to around Derby/Oxford area). Seems to be rare on route (like 3 or 4 last time I did it) and when come back up, as soon as you hit Abz. they become common as muck again... p

you can buy a one year, but I don't think you can extend it after the end of year 4 - not with the manufacturers warranty anyway - probably find an insurance style warranty though. So you need to decide before 36 months. think the cost of the two year warranty was MORE expensive than 2x the single year - probably on the basis that year 4-5 is going to be more risky than year 3-4. You'll also be tied into the servicing by main dealers too. Also it used to be 33 months was the decision point, but they recently extended it to be right up to month 36. - but sure as eggs are eggs, you'll forget, so if you know you want it, don;t leave it till last minute. I'd worked out the potential savings of the warranty on a trade in for a brand new STI - but it just wasn;t going to be worth it. The cost of the warranty is effectively the same as about 3 months depreciation from new (50% depreciation 27k over 3 years - and that's taking it in a straight line, ignoring the mammoth drop it'd take on day 1) Apparantly the wheel nut pattern has also changed, so my master plan of using my spare set of wheels for winter would be up the swanny as well. I don't rate the standard issue tyres for winter. I suppose, like me it'll come down to how much you want the security blanket. ps - you also get normal Subaru roadside assistance for he period of the extension - so I suppose that saves about 200 quid over 2 years

oobster Personally, I don't think the REO70's are a good idea in winter. Those are the ones I change FROM for my winter driving (currently on Toyo Snoprox. Much better) REO70's were very slidy on moist roads and slid going round a corner at just over walking pace in some light snow... the spare wheels are a good idea though. Maybe sell the tyres and get some winter shoes on them - sounds like you got them at a good price anyway p

oobster Personally, I don't think the REO70's are a good idea in winter. Those are the ones I change FROM for my winter driving (currently on Toyo Snoprox. Much better) REO70's were very slidy on moist roads and slid going round a corner at just over walking pace in some light snow... the spare wheels are a good idea though. Maybe sell the tyres and get some winter shoes on them - sounds like you got them at a good price anyway p

saw an article on this (but didn;t buy the magazine as I was in a hurry) is this to be a UK car? looking for it on-line, I can only see it as an import not the prettiest thing I've ever seen - but it has some merit... p

thanks for the input on the warranty question. there is zero chance of me modifying anything (or tracking it) so I would be in the 'play it safe' camp. the one owner before me did not modify it either, so I know which way its going oh, and I'm also a lazy tw@t who knows nowt about cars, and even if I knew what I was doing, I'd rather pay someone to fix it, than fix it myself. (At least I'm honest !) I've had quite a bit of work done on it under warranty in less than 12 months ownership Suppose I'll need to get it serviced by the Subaru garage though- on the plus side I do get Subaru assistance with it (which, I unfortunately had to call on within a month of buying it!) need to look out my chequebook thanks again for views p

hmm. I almost bought one of the o6 STIs sight unseen - based on the brochures (was getting a good tradce in price) Glad I didn;t now, cause the seats sound pants. p

car is now 33 months old and I'm at the point where I am looking at extending the Subaru warranty. anyone got a view on whether it's a good thing or not? Basically, I am not a mechanic and if anything goes wrong, I like the thought of Subaru fixing it for free. Also get Subaru Assist thrown in too. Looking at 2 years - which (with the new prices) will apparantly cost £1126. Not cheap - but then again, if I wanted cheap, I wouldn;t have bought an STI... there used to be a rule that said had to buy it before was 33 months old, but this has just changed, so OK up until end of normal 36 month warranty. p

just for the avoidance of doubt, it wasn;t me that got booked at 32 in a 30, it was a colleague at work. clean licence. p

last time I checked through the DVLA web site, I saw a plate for sale (cheapish too) that was EVO5HAT I bottled it though, cause I figure it would be taken badly by any number of people, and probably end up getting keyed by an Evo driver personally I like them both - but there's no accounting for taste is there? p

I tried Costco but they refused to swap my summer tyres onto a different set of wheels so they could put the michelins on the WR1 anthracites (which I got cheap, complete with unused REO70s) - they wouldn't touch them because they are only allowed to work on michellins. Pity, cause they were reasonable I ended up getting Toyo Snoprox. Big difference - although I've only had them for about 10 days so far, and don;t think I'll be pushing it as much as you sound like! Feels a lot better though. only slightly marred by the flat tyre I got after 2 days and only 25 miles. Thought it was a nail or something - turns out the garage had damaged the valve when putting one on. Phew. Gladly paid the tenner to redo the valve. Wouldn;t been gutted if I'd ruined it after only 2 days! it's a bit of a pain doing shuttle runs to the garage with the extra wheels in the back - cause it'll only take 2 at a time! p

yeh. I said he should contest it. Part of his problem is that his speedo actually fluctuates quite a lot, so he could only tell within the nearest 5 mph what speed he was actually doing. - but the fact they said 32mph sounds about right. I usually stick to town limits fairly closely, but I would readily admit to doing 32 in a 30, so I could easily be done too. Usually around town there is someone right up my chuff all the time. Motorways are worse, and I've been overtaken by all sorts of piles of junk with no chance of stopping if they had to. Don't get overtaken on many backroads though. Actually that's not true, but it's normally some muppet who is overtaking somewhere he shouldn't be, whilst I am waiting to overtake safely, and THEY have about half the grunt my STI would have at overtaking. you're not paranoid if they are genuinely out to get you.... p

colleague of mine in work has been booked by the Aberdeen Rozza's doing 32 in a 30 zone. Aberdeen. Going from Top of Holburn St, down Great Southern Road and past Duthie park....& they were lying on the verge, and pulled him over for doing 32mph. When he said he thought he had 10% leeway, their response was that was discretionary and they've stopped doing it. Needless to say he's nae happy Don;t know whether this is an official thing, or if it is just a one off, but defo one to watch for the rest of us. Anyone else heard of similar? ps - he doesn;t even drive a scooby - just some fairly tired old 4 x 4 jeep

any luck? - hope you got some joy out of him anyway, he will know he is in the wrong, you should let him know what is happening asap, and hopefully enough just to say you have two indeendent witnesses, rather than needing to get their actual statements (although it always helps) if he is a partner it is likely to be a firm car, and therefore he will not even care, and the nubmers you are talking about will be below the level of excess of the firm important things 1. make sure he knows you know he is in wrong 2. can prove it with your witnesses to your OK parking and his clumsy driving 3. repair bill is reasonable, and if he settles it, then OK 4. if he is worried you are trying to fleece him, he might restist paying you cash - in which case, he might offer to pay the bill, or pay you on confirmation of receipted invoice. If this, then make sure he confirms in writing that he will pay monies (and signed by him too, not just an e-mail) then you should be OK to organise. good luck

they fixed it ! 10 quid and hopefully sorted. Said they just pluged it, so no tyre needed. (not until I get my winter shoes on anyway) thanks for the input on this though.... p

thanks - it's at least an inch from the rim - so maybe saveable. p

anone got a spare Potenxa RE070 225 45 r17? - preferrably new or nearly new just found out I have a ruddy great screw in one of my almost new Potenza's. Extra annoying cause it only has maybe 2000 miles on the clock. Don't know yet if it will need replaced, or can be fixed, but it is certainly going flat - down to 4 psi when I found it. (obviously got REALLY strong walls, cause it only looked a little down, as opposed to being a pancake) So, anyone wanting rid of one? - (maybe two, so I have another spare) I'll get by in meantime on one of the old tyres from previous set of wheels. I'll look like a prime twat for a while with one gold wheel though... can contact me on 07715 500 101. I'm in Aberdeen anyone?

car was into Subaru yesterday. they say - system generally OK - battery being drained by tracker - they are to get in touch with Trackstar who will contact me to arrange a time to come out and see my car to make an - amendent to the tracker to sort the problem - 'never heard of battery drain being common on Imprezas' (I nearly chocked when he said that one to me !) - don't know if connecting the solar charger direct to the battery would invalidate warranty (not the most helpful answer) - they don;t know about the keypad and if it doesn;t work, then I need to contact alarm people - yes, the battery might have been damaged by the drain from being discharged completely twice, - but no, they are not going to replace it Useless would be too kind a word to say about them. Those of you in the Aberdeen area will know exactly which garage I'm talking about. I wait the call from Trackstar and wonder if the car will start next time I come home from a trip. p